Ryan Sikes The LA Kings and Chicago Blackhawks meet for one last time this season, with LA hoping to inch closer to a playoff berth.
The LA Kings will look to get one step closer to clinching a playoff berth, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday evening. The Kings are coming off back-to-back 2-1 wins over Columbus and Anaheim, with netminder Jonathan Quick standing on his head in both outings.
With Vegas topping the Capitals in overtime last night, the Kings’ lead over the Golden Knights is now down to just three points.
The Blackhawks are coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Arizona on Wednesday. Alex DeBrincat tallied his 40th goal of the year, the game-winner in the extra period.
The road team has won the two previous matchups, with LA earning a 5-2 win in Chicago last week. The Kings will look to take the rubber match.
Here’s how the two teams stack up on paper:
Top scorers:
LAK: Anze Kopitar – 18 goals, 45 assists, 63 points
CHI: Patrick Kane – 25 goals, 65 assists, 90 points
Betting Odds
The Kings come into this one as pretty significant favorites, per our sponsors at DraftKings.
Use Promo Code: THPN
- Kings Odds: -225
- Blackhawks Odds: +190
- Over/Under: 6.5
- Time: 7:30 pm PT
- Broadcast Info: SNE, SNO, SNP, BSW, NBCSCH, ESPN+
Projected Lineups
Here’s how the Kings aligned in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Ducks:
Tonight's @LAKings Line Rushes –
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) April 20, 2022
Athanasiou – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Iafallo – Lizotte – Brown
Lemieux – Kupari – Kaliyev
Edler – Roy
Moverare – Durzi
Maatta – Spence
Quick
Petersen
Jonathan Quick made his fourth consecutive start, looking like a 2012-version of himself. I see no reason to not ride with the hot hand in Quick the rest of the way.
The 36-year-old stopped 18-of-20 shots in the LA Kings’ 5-2 win in Chicago on April 12.
It appears there were no personnel changes in Wednesday’s practice (via LA Kings Insider), so that means Quinton Byfield and Gabe Vilardi are likely to sit for a third straight game.
Carl Grundstrom skated in a white jersey, elevated from a purple jersey. Let’s see if he draws in along the bottom-six forwards.
Here’s how the Blackhawks lined up in Arizona:
Blackhawks lines in warmups vs. Coyotes:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 21, 2022
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Kubalik-Toews-TJohnson
Kurashev-Lafferty-Raddysh
Katchouk-RJohnson-Borgstrom
Vlasic-SJones
McCabe-Regula
Stillman-Gustafsson
Lankinen
With Kevin Lankinen going on Wednesday, the Kings are likely to see Collin Delia for a third and final time on Thursday. Delia was outstanding in Los Angeles but gave up five in Chicago last Tuesday to LA.
Dominik Kubalik was inserted back into the lineup after three straight healthy scratches. In two previous games against the Kings, Kubalik has one goal – a shorthanded tally – and two points.
The Kings and Blackhawks get underway for the final time at Crypto.com Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm PT.
(Main photo credit: Paul Beaty / Associated Press)